Pneumatic signal system.



l W. V. TURNER.

PNEUMATIC SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION HLED AUGQBh 1917.

1,294,981 Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

XNVEITJTOR W HerVTurnz by WALTER V. TURNER, OF WILKIN-SBUBLG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTING- HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PNEUMATIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION manta net. is, rare.

Application filed August 31, 1917. Serial No. 189,082.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER V. TURNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Slgnal Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatlc s1gnaling systems, and more particularly to a system adapted for train signaling.

A pneumatic train signaling system heretofore employed comprises a normally charged signal pipe, a valve device operated upon a reduction in signal pipe pressure for operating a signal, and a dlscharge valve adapted to be manually operated on the train for venting fluid from the signal pipe.

In charging the signal pipe with fluid under pressure, it has heretofore been necessary to restrict the port through which the signal pipe is charged, so as to insure that a sufficient reduction in signal pipe pressure will be produced by the operation of a dis charge valve to efl'ect the operation of the signal valve, in spite of the flow of fluid through the recharging port to the signal 1 e. p %he use of a restricted charging port for the signal pipe, however, delays the charging of same and particularly on long trams, the signal pipe may not be charged sufiiciently at starting to insure satisfactory operation of the signal system.

The principal object of my invention is to provide means for quickly charging the signal pipe without interfering with the de sired operation of the signal system.

In the accompanying drawing; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a train signaling system, with my invention applied thereto; and Fig. 2 a central sectional view of the quick charging valve device.

As shown in the drawing, the train signaling system may comprise the usual signal pipe 1 which extends through the train, a signal valve device 2 on the locomotive adapted to be operated upon a reduction in signal pipe pressure for operating a signal 3, and a source of fluid pressure, such as the main reservoir 4;, for supplying fluid under pressure through pipe 5 to the signal pipe 1.

As is usual, a reducin valve 6 is interposed in pipe 5 for limiting the pressure of fluid supplied to the vention,

signal pipe 1 to a preand according to my inthere is also interposed in said supply pipe 5, a quick charging valve device 7.

s shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the quick charging valve device may comprise a casing, within which. is mounted a piston 8 carrying a valve 9 for controlling a large port through which fluid is supplied from the source of supply to the signal pipe.

The piston 8 is subject on one side to the pressure of a coil spring 10 and is open on the opposite side through ports 11 leading to an annular chamber 12 with a chamber 13, which communicates past check valve 14 with the signal pipe side of the supply pipe 5.

In operation, when there is no pressure in the signal pipe, or when the pressure in the signal pipe is less than a predetermined degree, the valve 9 is opened and fluid is supplied from reservoir 4 to the signal line at a rapid rate through the large port provided by the opening of vali e 9. When the pressure in the signal pipe has been raised to a predetermined degree, say to within five pounds of the standard pressure carried, the spring 10 operates to close the valve 9 and the signal pipe is then further charged to the full pressure through a restricted port 15.

The signal system may now be operated in the usual manner, and ordinary loss of fluid due to the operation of the signal system is made up by flow through the restricted port 15.

If the signal pipe pressure should fall to a predetermined low degree, say twenty pounds below normal, the dilferential pres sure acting on the seated area of valve 9 will be suflicient to lift the valve from its seat and since this exposes the full area of the piston to the pressure of fluid flowing from the sourcefthe piston will hold the valve open until the signal pipe pressure which acts on the spring side of the piston is suflicient, with the added pressure of the spring 10. to operate the piston 8 so as to close the valve 9. I

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a pneumatic signal system, the combination with a train signal pipe, of a source of fluid under pressure and a valve device determined degree,

subject on On'eside to signal pipe pressure and on the opposite side over a restricted area to the pressure of said source for controlling the supply of fluid to the signal pipe.

2. In a pneumatic signal system, the co n bination With a train signal pipe, of a source of fluid under pressure and avalve device subject on one side to signal pipe pressure,

andthe pressure'of a spring and on the op- 10 posite side over a restricted area to the pressure of said source for supplying fluid to the signal pipe upon a predetermined reduction in pressure in the signal pipe.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 7 my hand.

WALTER V. TURNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, b5 addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. C. 

